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Interview Do's and Dont's
Started by star2007
Don't be a cookie cutter premed. Don't script any of your answers ahead of time, and definitely try NOT TO BS!!! They can smell any of that stuff a mile away. Be yourself, but also be humble, professional, and courteous.
One thing I like to do for interviews is to prepare ahead of time. Things you should know include yourself - ie personal statement, secondaries, be able to describe ECs, what you learned from them, etc. Also includes things outside of you as well - ie healthcare issues, ethics, etc. But like I said before, scripting is out of the question, but learning about new things and creating your own informed opinion backed by solid facts is always a strong position for discussion.
You will find a method of interviewing and preparing for interviews that best suit you. Some people like to not prepare and go in and just go on the fly, which works for them. Try not to overanalyze what they will look at during the interview - the interviewer's intentions and purpose for interviewing you are usually near impossible to tell if they do not tell you themselves.
Good luck
One thing I like to do for interviews is to prepare ahead of time. Things you should know include yourself - ie personal statement, secondaries, be able to describe ECs, what you learned from them, etc. Also includes things outside of you as well - ie healthcare issues, ethics, etc. But like I said before, scripting is out of the question, but learning about new things and creating your own informed opinion backed by solid facts is always a strong position for discussion.
You will find a method of interviewing and preparing for interviews that best suit you. Some people like to not prepare and go in and just go on the fly, which works for them. Try not to overanalyze what they will look at during the interview - the interviewer's intentions and purpose for interviewing you are usually near impossible to tell if they do not tell you themselves.
Good luck
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Do: Talk to the other interviewees. It helps ease the tension and makes the interview process less intimidating.
Do: Sit back in your chair, legs uncrossed, breath.
Don't: Sit at the edge of the seat with crossed arms and legs, looking freaked out etc.
Don't: Sit at the edge of the seat with crossed arms and legs, looking freaked out etc.
Do get sleep. Go to bed early if you have a morning interview. Eat dinner at a normal time so that you get a deep sleep (so you don't wake up in the middle of the night thirsty or have dreams because your digesting stomach won't let you get into a deep sleep). Don't sleep next to someone who snores.
Do not schedule interviews at two different schools in one day no matter how necessary this seems.
Do not get insufficient sleep (because of a late dinner, late bedtime, and snoring of someone sleeping next to you) the night before the day of interviews at two different schools.
If you don't follow this advice, and in the afternoon at the second school the interviewer is somewhat contrary and you are TIRED because you have been interviewing and traveling day after day and because its the afternoon and your lack of sleep is catching up to you, and you feel tears coming on, ask to excuse yourself. Say you have to go to the bathroom. Especially if you do start to cry. Right then excuse yourself. Don't stay there in an attempt to regain your composure because you may not.....for a long time. (from personal experience🙁 ).
lol. at least my other interviews seemed to go well.
Do not schedule interviews at two different schools in one day no matter how necessary this seems.
Do not get insufficient sleep (because of a late dinner, late bedtime, and snoring of someone sleeping next to you) the night before the day of interviews at two different schools.
If you don't follow this advice, and in the afternoon at the second school the interviewer is somewhat contrary and you are TIRED because you have been interviewing and traveling day after day and because its the afternoon and your lack of sleep is catching up to you, and you feel tears coming on, ask to excuse yourself. Say you have to go to the bathroom. Especially if you do start to cry. Right then excuse yourself. Don't stay there in an attempt to regain your composure because you may not.....for a long time. (from personal experience🙁 ).
lol. at least my other interviews seemed to go well.
Do wear clean underware. Don't wear them on the outside of your suit.
Sorry, Todd Parr's influence. What can I say -- I have kids.
Sorry, Todd Parr's influence. What can I say -- I have kids.
I don't know, I like to shift forward when I want to show that I'm interested in something. I sit back to mirror the interviewer when the hype settles down and its back to smooth sailing again. Sometimes I choose an arm rest to focus on, but part of it has to do with your interviewer - if they are sitting as straight as a pole with hands folded in front of them, well it's time to put that stick back in your butt.
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Do ask questions about the school.
Don't ask "Does that stairwell have roof access?" after an interview you think went poorly.
Do be prepared to discuss your extracurricular activities
Don't be prepared to discuss your interest in recreational pharmaceuticals.
Do bring copies of your publications.
Don't bring copies of Penthouse.
Do wear a nice suit and speak professionally.
Don't wear a khaki military uniform, mirrored sunglasses, speak only in Arabic and ignore all questions.
Don't ask "Does that stairwell have roof access?" after an interview you think went poorly.
Do be prepared to discuss your extracurricular activities
Don't be prepared to discuss your interest in recreational pharmaceuticals.
Do bring copies of your publications.
Don't bring copies of Penthouse.
Do wear a nice suit and speak professionally.
Don't wear a khaki military uniform, mirrored sunglasses, speak only in Arabic and ignore all questions.
don't pull it out!
Do try to smile.
- it's okay to be human throughout the process. It's even encouraged.
Do do your research about the school you're interviewing at.
- if your answer can apply to many medical schools, it's probably not a good answer.
Do take your time to answer.
- no one expects you to have the solutions to the world's problems, but they do expect you to be thoughtful.
Don't put down past schools, employers, or professors.
- have accountability for your past.
Don't book travel too closely.
- especially if you're travelling in winter through the east or midwest.
Don't get your fashion advice from SDN.
- Seriously.
- it's okay to be human throughout the process. It's even encouraged.
Do do your research about the school you're interviewing at.
- if your answer can apply to many medical schools, it's probably not a good answer.
Do take your time to answer.
- no one expects you to have the solutions to the world's problems, but they do expect you to be thoughtful.
Don't put down past schools, employers, or professors.
- have accountability for your past.
Don't book travel too closely.
- especially if you're travelling in winter through the east or midwest.
Don't get your fashion advice from SDN.
- Seriously.
Keep your hair out of your eyes and off your cheeks.
Do not smoke anything before the interview, no matter how relaxed it makes you feel.
Shake your interviewers hand and make eye contact at that time.
Have at least one well thought out question that shows your interest in the school. Ask it of every interviewer who asks you if you have any questions.
Treat the receptionists - and eveyone you meet - with respect. Deans notice when their highly valued staff members get dumped on by stressed out applicants and it is considered a black mark for the applicant.
Do not smoke anything before the interview, no matter how relaxed it makes you feel.
Shake your interviewers hand and make eye contact at that time.
Have at least one well thought out question that shows your interest in the school. Ask it of every interviewer who asks you if you have any questions.
Treat the receptionists - and eveyone you meet - with respect. Deans notice when their highly valued staff members get dumped on by stressed out applicants and it is considered a black mark for the applicant.
And if using dip, be sure to bring along a cup in which to spit during the interview. Some spittoons in admissions offices are actually meant to hold umbrellas.
DO try to rattle the other interviewees. 1) no schools have zero gunners. no shame in being that kid. 2) face it, they're not going to rat on you, and you're only helping yourself by thinning the pool just a bit. 3) you're doing everyone else a favor - nobody wants emotionally unstable classmates.
DON'T make fun of socialism. a lot of docs are pretty much there.
DON'T make fun of socialism. a lot of docs are pretty much there.
Dont play with your jewelry, hair, etc. They know you are nervous, but there's no need to be fidgety.
If you have a teeny tiny bladder, take a precautionary pee before the interview.
Get there early.
Dont forget to spit out your gum.
Take your time to answer a tough question.
Expect the unexpected. ("So, what religion are you?")
When it comes to situational questions with "no wrong answers," there are plenty of wrong answers. Make sure yours is not one of them.
Be yourself. Smile. Try to relax. Hope your friends/SO text message you during the day to remind you of how wonderful you are and how proud they are of you for making it this far.
Its always nice to be reminded of your cheering section.
If you have a teeny tiny bladder, take a precautionary pee before the interview.
Get there early.
Dont forget to spit out your gum.
Take your time to answer a tough question.
Expect the unexpected. ("So, what religion are you?")
When it comes to situational questions with "no wrong answers," there are plenty of wrong answers. Make sure yours is not one of them.
Be yourself. Smile. Try to relax. Hope your friends/SO text message you during the day to remind you of how wonderful you are and how proud they are of you for making it this far.
Its always nice to be reminded of your cheering section.
Do: Turn off your cell phone
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yes, I def agree with this one, off off, NOT BUZZ... the buzzing on some phones is so loud it might as well be a buzz... (a person in an interview group of mine had their 'buzz' go off while we were getting a presentation about a school... the presenter (assistant dean) definitely noticed.
i am good at eye contact, but one thing i realized that I often do is, after getting a question that i am not perfectly sure how to answer, i look away while making some sort of stall noise (ummm, uhhh, etc) this is probably bad, I need to stop doing this.
one of my favorite questions to ask people (besides school specific stuff) is 'what are you looking for in an applicant' - I ask this at the end (and only if i feel the person will not take it an odd way). Hopefully they describe you, but if not, at least you have asked them an interesting question and maybe learned a little bit for next time...
one example: at my mayo interview I asked my student interviewer that question, and one thing she said was ...a good listener. I had never considered this before, but thinking about it, that is surely important.
from personal experience: don't show up at the wrong school.
DO:
Get there 20-15 minutes earlier than the suggested time. It's always best to allow time for getting lost or having to go to the bathroom before hand.
Get to know your fellow interviewees, you will hopefully get to know nice people and it will help relax you and calm your nerves. No one wants to be the weird applicant standing by him/herself in the corner. (Annecdote: There was a girl in one of my interviews, a somewhat older applicant, standing all by herself like that. When someone approached her, she shrugged them off. Don't do that).
Always take a precautionary visit to the bathroom prior to the interview. Having to pee is the last thing you want to worry about while you are being grilled by your interviewer.
Dress professionally, and act like it.
Practice manners at all times, with the staff, other interviewees, the janitor, the taxi driver, etc. I shouldn't have to say this but some people often forget.
Make eye contact with your interviewere while he's speaking and while you are answering questions. However, it's not a staring contest and it's okay to look elsewhere in thoughtful concentration while you try to find an intelligent answer to their questions.
End the interview by politely thanking them for their time.
DON'T:
Fidget with your hair, jewelry, or clothes during the interview.
Bring your parents with you, regardless of how much they beg you.
Be loud and obnoxious, other people will start to hate you before you are even their classmate.
Be late to your interviews. Just don't.
Badmouth other schools or past employers.
Be arrogant.
I don't think so at all, I just can't stand arrogant people.
I would tend to agree with Doc Martins. If you're stupid enough to say something like that, you should be prepared to defend yourself against it and/or pay the price for it.
DO:
1. Prepare answers to the typical questions, and do rehearse making them sound unrehearsed. I know we all have our reasons and everyone said not to sound scripted, but I wouldn't have pulled out an eloquant answer to "why will you make a good doctor?" or "why do you want to be one?" or "why THIS school?" unless I'd thought it out beforehand.
2. Take note of questions you sort of stammered on, mention them in your thank you note. ("I had a chance to consider further your question about teenaged pregnanct, and...")
3. Ask specific questions about the school - don't ask about board scores or funding or something that can be applied to all schools, but about a particular clinic the students run, or what it takes to be accepted to the annual trip to Honduras, or about the newly integrated systems approach, etc. Show you've researched the school.
4. Do wear natural makeup. It makes you look and feel better.
5. Reread all of your application material. I forgot a club I'd discussed because no one in 10 interviews asked me about it, and I must have looked dumb trying to piece together what I was being asked.
6. I'm not sure I agree with "don't badmouth other schools." Like, of course do it with tact if necessary, but I told NYU how much more impressive I'd found them over Cornell when my interviewer asked if I'd seen other area schools. I said I didn't like the PBL and I didn't feel as immediately comfortable. I didn't call it a backup (hahahahaha. Cornell) or anything rude and lowclass. Don't do that.
Don't:
1. Try to get too buddy-buddy with the interviewer. I'm afraid I did this at UCLA - we were giggling. No good.
2. Be cute, innocent and bright-eyed - you're embarking upon a long, arduous path. This is important for small females, like me. Don't come off like an excited child. Enthusiastic, yes - youthfully energetic and naive, no.
3. Look sexy. God, I can't say for certain that it's a point against them when they're already interviewing at top schools, but it always confused me to see girls in stilletos and tight suitskirts. There was one in particular at my Cornell. Hoo.. Think of it this way: what if you get an austere, elderly female interviewer who fought for her place in academic medicines back in the 60s? No one's saying to look like a man, but don't look sexy, ferkrissake.
4. Underestimate student interviewers. I tend to. It's obviously more casual, but sometimes I forget I'm not just sitting down to lunch with a new buddy who wants to give me the down-low on a school.
1. Prepare answers to the typical questions, and do rehearse making them sound unrehearsed. I know we all have our reasons and everyone said not to sound scripted, but I wouldn't have pulled out an eloquant answer to "why will you make a good doctor?" or "why do you want to be one?" or "why THIS school?" unless I'd thought it out beforehand.
2. Take note of questions you sort of stammered on, mention them in your thank you note. ("I had a chance to consider further your question about teenaged pregnanct, and...")
3. Ask specific questions about the school - don't ask about board scores or funding or something that can be applied to all schools, but about a particular clinic the students run, or what it takes to be accepted to the annual trip to Honduras, or about the newly integrated systems approach, etc. Show you've researched the school.
4. Do wear natural makeup. It makes you look and feel better.
5. Reread all of your application material. I forgot a club I'd discussed because no one in 10 interviews asked me about it, and I must have looked dumb trying to piece together what I was being asked.
6. I'm not sure I agree with "don't badmouth other schools." Like, of course do it with tact if necessary, but I told NYU how much more impressive I'd found them over Cornell when my interviewer asked if I'd seen other area schools. I said I didn't like the PBL and I didn't feel as immediately comfortable. I didn't call it a backup (hahahahaha. Cornell) or anything rude and lowclass. Don't do that.
Don't:
1. Try to get too buddy-buddy with the interviewer. I'm afraid I did this at UCLA - we were giggling. No good.
2. Be cute, innocent and bright-eyed - you're embarking upon a long, arduous path. This is important for small females, like me. Don't come off like an excited child. Enthusiastic, yes - youthfully energetic and naive, no.
3. Look sexy. God, I can't say for certain that it's a point against them when they're already interviewing at top schools, but it always confused me to see girls in stilletos and tight suitskirts. There was one in particular at my Cornell. Hoo.. Think of it this way: what if you get an austere, elderly female interviewer who fought for her place in academic medicines back in the 60s? No one's saying to look like a man, but don't look sexy, ferkrissake.
4. Underestimate student interviewers. I tend to. It's obviously more casual, but sometimes I forget I'm not just sitting down to lunch with a new buddy who wants to give me the down-low on a school.
How did that happen?
went to undergrad campus instead of med school...which are about 100 miles seperate...
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I doubt it was Baylor...Baylor U and Baylor C of Med are more than 100 miles away. 3.5 hours away, in fact, or I suppose something like ~250 miles.
Stare deeply and intently into their eyes. Don't EVER lose eye contact. Trust me, it will freak them out.
